Here are some steps you can take to ensure your child’s First Communion is a success:

Location and Theme

First, decide where you would like the First Communion party to be held. Some options include the local church, an elegant hotel, restaurant, hall, or even your own backyard. By choosing the location first, it makes the various elements of the party planning process much easier. Next, decide a rough schedule of events for the First Communion party. For example, begin by drafting an itinerary including guest speeches, refreshments, snack times, picture times, and other ceremonial agenda items. Also, select a theme for your party. You can highlight the religious aspect of the celebration or you can emphasize the child’s personality and characteristics. You can also use banners and balloons with colors that your child enjoys to decorate.

Invitations and Gifts

Consider putting together some type of small gift bag or item to memorialize the event. This can be a picture of your child, religious tokens, or food items. Also, utilize various flower arrangements at the First Communion party to add a joyful element to this important celebration. Designing your own invitations will add a personal touch and generate more interest in the child’s First Communion party. You can purchase some hard card stock, or go online to find and create a design.

Catering

You may also want to consider putting a special menu together for the First Communion party. Any meal or dish you would serve at an Easter gathering would be appropriate for a First Communion party. For the main course, consider a hearty leg of lamb, baked ham, turkey platter, and chicken served with a choice of salad and a bread roll. For dessert, the cake or other treats should have a design in the form of a cross to complete the theme of your First Communion party.

We will assist you with a full list of services to choose from. The choices are endless, with feasts prepared in our gourmet kitchen, cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres, dessert, bridal suite, etc., this is your day to shine so don’t worry about anything else!

With weddings being a historic event in your life, choosing a venue will be a significant reminder of this memorable day. Richmond Hall will be able to create the ultimate experience you and your guests will never forget. With many of the same features as other grand ballrooms such as floor plan and capacity, Richmond Hall is ideal for weddings and cocktail parties. With the overlooking balcony on the crystal room and crystal chandeliers, it is sure to offer a highly elegant setting for you and your guests. The atmosphere of your reception should reflect your personality and style.

Aside from the eloquent banquet facility that can accommodate up to 500 guests, it adds perfect charm to making your big day a huge success. Whether you were going for a modern or traditional wedding, Richmond Hall simply compliments both themes.

Wedding Invitations

One of the first steps in setting the mood for a spring wedding is sending out spring themed wedding invitations. Typically, the invitations have spring flowers or spring scenery on them.

Wedding Attire

Since temperatures are typically not too hot and not too cold, there are many options for the wedding dress. It is important to choose a versatile dress that can suite you in both warm and cold weather.

Some good fabrics to choose from are:

•Batiste (an opaque fabric that is very light)

•Crepe (a thin fabric available in a wide variety of fibers and finishes)

•Damask (made of various fabrics and has patterns/designs woven into it)

•Duchesse Satin (a lightweight hybrid of rayon/polyester and silk)

You may also choose to add a sash or embroidery of a different color on your dress.

Today’s weddings are becoming more and more colorful. Some two-color combinations that many couples use are:

•Light blue along with chocolate, ivory, pastel green, or white

•Pastel green and ivory

•Pink with any green

•Lavender and yellow

Spring Flowers

You can save a lot of money on your wedding by purchasing in season flowers. Some in season spring flowers include:

.Allium                                                .Magnolia

.Bells of Ireland                                .Snapdragon

.Boronia                                              .Lilac

.Cherry Blossom                               .Lilies

.Daffodil                                              .Violet

.Hydrangea                                        .Pansy

Spring Wedding Decorations

Purchase decorations that are pastel blue, pink or lavender. You can also choose to place seasonal flowers up as centerpieces on the reception tables.

Wedding Menu

Serve fresh young vegetables such as sugar snap peas, baby carrots, baby asparagus, or potatoes. You could even serve fresh carrot cake along with fresh fruits. Also consider serving strawberries, mangos, apricots or pomegranates.

This holiday, which has religious roots, has grown into a worldwide cultural celebration. Of course if you are Irish it’s a day to be proud, and if you’re not, than it’s an excuse to “cheers”. So, what better way before going out to the pub than to have some hors d’eourves? Or if you’re staying home, have your party completely catered!

If you haven’t started planning already, determine the venue for the big day. Make sure the place is suitable for the amount of people you plan on inviting. Having a comfortable environment and enough room for everyone will allow all of your guests to interact.

Once the venue is settled, decide on what the guests would like to eat, within reason of course. You can’t have a party without food, so having an adequate amount, which your guests will enjoy, will make the celebration a hit. Also, have music playing for entertainment, so make a playlist full of songs that will go over well with the crowd.

Finally, we must address the theme especially when it comes to Saint Patrick’s Day, which means going green! Decorating with shamrocks and gold coins will get your guests in a celebratory mood on this great day. Once you have all these simple planning steps figured out from venue, food, to decorations it will make your Saint Patrick’s Day party wildly successful!

A Formal Reception

If you are hosting a formal reception like a wedding or anniversary, you will want to include appetizers as well as some sort of sit-down meal. Appetizers can range from cheese and crackers, to bacon wrapped scallops depending on how formal the event is, and how much money is in your budget.

You can have the meal served or buffet style. Make sure you have a choice of beef and chicken as well as plenty for the vegetarians attending. Don’t forget the salad, dinner rolls, and desert.

Barbecue Catering

Catering a barbecue involves a whole different selection of catering ideas. Barbecues are meant to be relaxing and fun, so a buffet style catering is perfect. All you will need to do is line up some tables and place the food on platters and warming trays. Some foods to include are: BBQ Ribs, burgers, chicken wings, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, coleslaw, macaroni salad and fruit salad.

Backyard Party

A backyard party can range from small to large. The same foods served at a barbeque can also be served at a backyard party, along with tables for buffet style dining. If you don’t want the standard barbecue menu, you may include things such as: chili, ham, or a roast setup at a carving station, pasta, and more!

Cocktail Party

Cocktail parties are not sit-down affairs. They are generally pretty mobile with the guests standing and moving around. For this event, you want to choose foods that aren’t too messy and are easy to carry around. The foods to consider are those that can be speared on a toothpick and won’t drip sauce all over the place. The standard cheese, crackers, and grapes are always a hit, but also add other appetizers so your guests don’t get bored.

A Shower

Most of the time, a shower does not call for a sit down meal. Shower foods should be light foods like finger sandwiches along with potato and macaroni salad, and of course dessert.

.Create a checklist:

.What is your cake budget
.How many guests
.How many tiers/designs
.What colors/decorations
.What is your cake top?
.When is Your Wedding?

.When is Your Wedding?

The date and location of your wedding will affect the type of cake you choose. If your wedding will be taking place in the summer, mousse or ice cream cake will not be a good choice. Discuss with your baker the types of cake that will be in season.

.Choose a Reliable Bakery

You can begin your research online. This will allow you to obtain customer feedback, and view images of the bakery’s work. Make sure to select a bakery that provides a wide range of cake styles. Once you have chosen a bakery, visit the location and meet with the staff. This is your opportunity to provide sketches, ideas, and samples of your colors to leave with the pastry chef. Make sure to get everything in writing.

.Give Yourself Time to Pick Your Wedding Cake

If you have already chosen a color scheme and the wedding venue, then it’s a good time to get the cake designed and ordered. Your cake should be ordered 6-8 weeks in advance.

.Go Cake Tasting

This is one of the most important steps before finalizing your cake. If the cake will consist of multiple flavors, taste all of them. Flavors like chocolate, strawberry and vanilla will vary depending on how the cake is made, its formulation, its frosting, and more.

.Cake Size, Icing, Decorations

Wedding cakes come in all shapes and sizes—the options are limitless. When deciding on the size of your cake, keep in mind the number of guests attending. The type of icing you choose can be a simple sugar and flour recipe, or even a rich cream cheese icing. Today, many couples are choosing to match their icing color with the overall theme of the wedding. You can decorate your cake based on the décor and theme of your wedding, go with crazy and outrageous decorations or decide on lace, embroidery appliqué or elegant drapes or swag. The decision is all up to you so have fun with it!

Some Tips To Help Get You Started On Your Event Preparation Can  Include:

-Create A Checklist—Include food, bar, entertainment, venue, invitations, guest list, etc. Use your checklist as you plan your event. Make sure you add details as you go along and check off the tasks that have been completed.

-Plan In Advance—Send the invitations out and advertise ahead of time. The larger the event, the more time you should give yourself. Allow at least two weeks for a small private party and three months or longer for a significant event in which people have to travel. This gives your guests plenty of time to plan and prepare.

-Guests should be made aware of the purpose and theme of the event. Provide this information on the event’s invitation, poster, or flyer. This information will help your guests know how to dress and prepare for the event.

-Choose An Appropriate Venue—Begin by asking yourself, is there enough space for your guests to mingle, dance, and provide entertainment? Is there a bar and facilities for serving food? Is there enough space for a sit-down meal or is it limited to stand-up?  Does it have adequate climate control and restroom facilities?

-Have an adequate number of bartenders and servers.

-Make sure that there is enough food that it is high quality, and that it fits the theme or mood of your party.

-Appoint hosts if you having a large event. Have friends or associates help greet guests and even introduce them
to other guests.

-Think About Having Name Tags—Providing name tags allows attendees not acquainted with one another to feel more comfortable approaching someone they might not know.

-A media presentation is a great enhancement to any event. You can choose from high-tech audio-visual productions to slide shows to exhibits to posters.

-Entertainment can make or break an event. Consider a mix of entertainers to provide a variety of entertainment. Some popular choices are a DJ or a live band. Most recent trends show that event planners and hosts are choosing magicians and stand-up comics.

-Review your checklist regularly to make sure that everything is running smoothly.

Last but not least, remember to show appreciation and gratitude for the groups and individuals who helped to make your event a success!

A Few Tips To Guide You In Your Lighting Selection Include:

Find a Pro

There are a couple of ways you can find your wedding lighting specialist. First, ask your event planner or wedding florist if they do their own lighting. If not, they may have a lighting pro they regularly work with. You can also ask the coordinator at your reception venue to recommend a lighting company that has worked with the site before.  Also, ask to see pictures of the space having been changed by various lighting arrangements.

Assess Your Site

If you’re having an evening reception, make sure to visit your site at least once when it’s dark outside—this will allow you to look around the room and see where the lighting is being focused. Lights that illuminate the walls, windows, and ceiling draw attention away from the center of the room. You want to make sure the lighting keeps everyone’s eyes on the tables, dance floor, and each other. In addition, ask if the site has dimmers for their overhead lights, and if there’s any florescent lighting at all, keep it turned off!

If your wedding is taking place at home, discuss how much electricity your lighting designer is going to need. You may want to consider having your lighting expert bring a generator before blowing a fuse.

Learn About the Different Types of Lighting

Pin spot is a focused beam of light that shines directly onto an object, like a centerpiece or wedding cake, as a highlight effect.

Color wash is a blanket of colored light covering an entire area.

Gobos are circular stencils that are put over a light to project a design or pattern. Some popular gobo designs are monograms, dates, or any other wedding motifs. Keep in mind that the complexity of the design will affect the gobo’s cost. A simple stencil can be stamped out of steel, while a more intricate design must be laser etched out of stainless steel or a glass that can withstand high heat.

Led is short for light-emitting diodes. This type of lighting is currently popular for weddings because they use much less electricity and don’t get as hot as the regular, incandescent light bulbs. LEDs are great for color changes and vibrant colors.

Don’t be Afraid to Use Color

Think outside your wedding palette when you use colored lights. Stay away from colors that are part of your decor. Opt for colors that complement all skin tones, like magenta or a soft rose. Take advantage of the effect color can have on the atmosphere by changing the shades through the course of the night. For example, if your cocktail hour starts around sunset, you can splash your room with golden tones. During dinner, consider soft lighting that will mimic flickering candlelight. Remember you can change the mood of a room with the push of a button.

Lighting Set Up Outside

If your site has a path or steps that people will be using throughout the night, keep it lit with luminaries or paper lanterns so that no one trips. More dramatic lighting might include using dramatic, sculptural lights like large orbs, or rows of vertical poles of light that look like pieces of modern art. You can also fill your centerpieces with clear—glass marbles as well as small battery-powered lights to give an interesting glow to each arrangement.

Choose the Right Lights

The layout of your reception site can determine how you’re going to use lighting techniques. If dinner and dancing are happening in the same room, use a color wash to set the dance floor apart. Work closely with your lighting designer to figure out which type of lighting fits your budget. You can create a lasting impression with just the basic form of lighting and the right preparation.

Caterers offer several buffet options to create a lunch menu suited for your guest. Some options include:

Deli Buffets: this option is popular and includes a majority of finger foods that pleases any crowd. The menu typically includes mixed green salad with different dressings to choose from, fruit salad, potato salad, antipasto or chips, three types of sandwich meats with a bread choice, and a dessert tray.

American and Ethnic Buffets: allows the event planner to select foods that go with the overall theme of the event. Some popular themes include:  American burgers and fries, Italian pasta, pizza, Tuscan style chicken, Southwest tacos and fajita stations, Asian spring rolls, stir fries, rice and noddle dishes. You should also include a selection of appetizers, entrées, and dessert options.

Box Lunches: work best for working lunches where the guests can remain focused on the objective of the meeting. Box lunches offer at least four varieties to choose from, such as turkey, roast beef, ham and vegetarian sandwiches, including a piece of fruit with a cookie, and chips.  Make sure to include condiments and utensils.

Build Your Own Lunch Menu: may include the option to go with a buffet style or plated meal. The menu normally includes lettuce salad options, fruit salads, and soup. The entrée consists of chicken, pork, beef, salmon, or Caesar salad with grilled chicken. There is also an option of sides including vegetables, potatoes, pasta, or rice. Don’t forget to include dessert.

No matter what type of meal you select, offer guests a variety of drinks to go along with their meal. Suggestions include assorted soft drinks and juices, bottled water, coffee and tea.

Have fun planning a luncheon, there is a lot to choose from to meet your needs and make the event as smooth as possible!

For Example:

Catered Meals For A New Mom and Dad

When a new baby is born, it brings joy, happiness…and of course a certain amount of anarchy!  New parents are usually stressed by all of the hassle that goes into taking mind of a baby in its first few weeks (not to mention the serious lack of sleep they suffer due to those late-night feedings and lopsided sleeping patterns.) So, that’s why sending new parents a catered meal through a local catering company can be one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give them. It alleviates their worry about what to make for dinner so that they can relax and enjoy more time with their newborn. Plus, you save them money by generously buying them dinner!